NCFR News

We invite members to submit news and announcements about themselves or other members — professional promotions, awards, job changes, involvement in a notable project or event, recognition for outstanding work, etc. — so that we can share with our membership.

It has been a remarkable year for Bahira Sherif Trask. In addition to coordinating a conference focused on families and cultural intersections in a global context, she was a keynote speaker at several United Nations events.

The Elections Council encourages all members to nominate yourself or others for the February 2020 slate of election candidates. Here are the eligibility criteria to help you decide whether you would be willing to be nominated and/or to identify potential candidates for the upcoming election.

The annual publication, Contemporary Perspectives in Family Research(CFPR), seeks manuscripts on the theme of “Transitions into Parenthood: Childbearing, Childrearing, and the Changing Nature of Parenting” for its 2019 volume. Submissions are welcome from across various methodologies.

This year, NCFR celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Journal of Family Theory & Review (JFTR). JFTR publishes original contributions in all areas of family theory, including advancing theories through critical and metatheoretical projects, and comprehensive reviews of literature and media.

This special issue of the Journal of Family Theory & Review will highlight theories commonly applied by Family Scientists to interpret how family structures and processes are influential for areas of adolescent development.

CFLE Network, a quarterly newsletter published for Certified Family Life Educators, is a resource filled with information about Family Life Education. For the winter 2018 issue, the editors seek authors who can share information, stories, research, and resources relevant to home visiting.

Every 10 to 15 years, beginning several decades ago, family scholars have developed a sourcebook publication that takes stock of emerging theory and methods and summarizes and advances the state of science in the discipline. It is one of the foundational resources on theory and methods in the discipline of Family Science.

NCFR is pleased to announce that Claire Kimberly, Ph.D., CFLE, has accepted the new position of webinar coordinator. This added role will enable NCFR to expand on its success in providing webinars for family scholars and practitioners.

The Society for Research in Child Development is conducting an international search for an editor of its scholarly journal, Child Development. Current editor Cynthia García Coll will end her term with the 2020 volume. The search committee is interested in an editor with innovative ideas, vision, and leadership who will continue to expand the journal’s high impact and visibility.

Wendy Middlemiss, Ph.D., CFLE, will begin her four-year term as editor of the peer-reviewed journal — which publishes basic and applied articles on family forms and issues that are original, innovative, and interdisciplinary — with the publication of its February 2020 issue.

The Students and New Professionals Leadership Council of NCFR seeks input from family scholars, practitioners, Certified Family Life Educators, and students at all levels on how to create a sustainable organization-wide mentoring program within NCFR.

This year's report highlights six measures on the status of at-risk children and youth: poverty and extreme poverty; health insurance continuity; homelessness; exposure to violence; prescription opioid misuse and use disorders; and residential placement of juveniles.

Ashton L. Chapman, Ph.D., has been selected to participate in a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation leadership development program designed to equip leaders across the country — in every sector and field — to collaborate, break down silos, and use their influence to make communities healthier and more equitable.

In 2017, Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science (FR), published by NCFR, released a special issue titled “Feminist Framings of Sexual Violence on College Campuses.” Articles in this issue address topics such as reporting violence, remembering assaults, the grief of survivors, how to talk about being victimized, sexual scripts of college students, and more.

On Sept. 28, 2018, President Trump signed into law a fiscal year (FY) 2019 funding package, which includes spending for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The bill was passed earlier in the week by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The October 2018 issue of Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science is now available for subscribers and features reflections on "doing family", articles on relationship quality and individual well-being, and life satisfaction.

Francesca Adler-Baeder, Ph.D., CFLE, and Ted G. Futris, Ph.D., CFLE, are the 2018 recipients of the Margaret E. Arcus Outstanding Family Life Educator Award, which recognizes NCFR member(s) who have made significant contributions to the field of Family Life Education through research, theory, publication, practice, program development, and/or training.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Natasha A.Cox, M.A., as the 2018 recipient of the Jessie Bernard Outstanding Research Proposal from a Feminist Perspective Award, which is given to a graduate student or new professional who has demonstrated excellence in research and potential contribution to feminist scholarship.

Paul R. Amato, Ph.D., andSarah E. Patterson, Ph.D., are the 2018 recipients of the Reuben Hill Award, which is given to the author(s) of an outstanding article or book that combines theory and methodology to analyze and interpret a significant family issue.

In an effort to improve its transparency and stewardship over the clinical trials it funds, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a definition and set of case studies that make a clear distinction between clinical trials and basic research.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Shelley M. MacDermid Wadsworth, Ph.D., as the 2018 recipients of the Felix Berardo Scholarship Award, which is given to NCFR members whose work has been noted for excellence in mentoring one or more junior colleagues.

Kimberly A. Crossman, Ph.D., is the 2018 recipient of the Jessie Bernard Outstanding Contribution to Feminist Scholarship Paper,which is given to a graduate student or new professional who has demonstrated excellence in research and potential contribution to feminist scholarship.

Caroline M. Sanner, Ph.D., is the 2018 recipient of the NCFR Student Award, which is given to an NCFR graduate student member who has demonstrated excellence as a student and shows great potential for contributing to Family Science.

Ijeoma Opara, M.P.H., LMSW, is the 2018 recipient of the John L. and Harriette P. McAdoo Dissertation Award, which provides support for the recipient to complete an approved doctoral dissertation with a focus on issues impacting ethnic minority families.

The U.N. Human Development Report Office has released its 2018 Statistical Update for download online. This report provides an overview of the state of human development — snapshots of current conditions as well as long-term trends in human development achievements.

The Affiliate Council Board of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) has two immediate openings that will begin in November, following the 2018 NCFR Annual Conference in San Diego, California. Members of any state/regional or student affiliate council are invited to apply.

More than half of U.S. teens (54%) report that they spend too much time on their cell phones and have taken steps to cut back on their screen time and use of social media and video games, according to studies from the Pew Research Center.

The September 2018 issue is devoted to the topic Military and Veteran‐Connected Families: Advances in Theory and Methodologyand was co-edited by NCFR members CaseyJ.Totenhagen, Ph.D.,andDavidL.Albright, Ph.D., M.S.W.

Jennifer L. Doty, Ph.D., CFLE, has started a new position as assistant professor youth development and prevention science in the Department of Families, Youth, and Community Sciences at the University of Florida.

On Sept. 6, 2018, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services proposed new regulations that would keep some undocumented immigrant children in detention longer than the currently allowed 20 days.

The U.S. Census Bureau is soliciting feedback from researchers on how its data products from prior decennial censuses are being used. The products in question include summary and detailed tables, national and state demographic profiles, and topical briefs. This feedback will inform how they prepare data products from the 2020 Census.

The editors of the journal Contexts, published by the American Sociological Association, seek proposals for a special issue exploring the meanings of freedom from a sociological perspective. Possible topics could include mass incarceration, border control, the meaning of political and economic freedom across different cultures, and much more.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released three guidance documents related to provisions that institutions can implement before the newly revised policy that regulates research using human subjects (known as the Common Rule) goes into effect on January 21, 2019.

National population surveys are used by researchers, policymakers, and program developers to investigate patterns and inform decisions. The new resources below from the National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families assess the United State's data infrastructure in terms of measuring the diversity of Hispanic family and household composition.

Yan Ruth Xia, Ph.D., CFLE, is the recipient of the Fulbright Distinguished Chair Award for 2018-2019. This prestigious award is given to scholars with an extensive publication and teaching history and will provide Dr. Xia with a grant to conduct research and teach in China during the fall and spring semesters of 2018-2019.

The June 2018 issue of Journal of Family Theory & Review is devoted to the topic, Revisioning Family Theories: Centering Race and Ethnicity, and was co-edited by NCFR members Cheryl Buehler, Ph.D., and April L. Few‐Demo, Ph.D.

According to a report from the United States Census Bureau, the percentage of married-couple households that are interracial or interethnic in the U.S. grew from 7.4% in 2000 to 10.2% during the span of 2012-2016. This growth varied by state and for specific interracial/interethnic combination types—seven of which were identified in the data.

Several new early-view articles were published over the past week in Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science (FR) and the Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF). Subscribers can visit the respective journal's access webpage to read the full text of these articles on the website of our journal publisher, Wiley Blackwell.

The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) is now accepting applications for the 2018 Victoria S. Levin Award for Early Career Success in Young Children’s Mental Health Research. The purpose of this award is to help junior investigators achieve federal funding for their developmental science research in this area.

The applied family studies graduate degree at Wilmington University is the newest program to be approved by NCFR as meeting the criteria for the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) credential. Additionally, seven programs were renewed as a CFLE-approved program for the next five years:

Greetings NCFR Members! The Fellows Committee is seeking nominations for the 2018 Fellows Awards. Please help us by nominating members who have made significant contributions to the organization and the field.

On June 8, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that it is seeking public comments for the 2020 Decennial Census. Comments are requested on whether the proposed data collection procedures and question categories are necessary and whether the collected information will have practical utility.

The Board of Directors of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) implores the Trump Administration to cease the unnecessary detention and separation of immigrant parents and their children as they seek asylum from violence and persecution in their home countries.

The current U.S. practice of separating immigrant children from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border will have harmful, lasting effects on all members of the family, especially upon children and their parents. Research published and cited by the National Council on Family Relations demonstrates the importance of keeping families together. Findings were gathered from the references below.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) announces that Elaine A. Anderson, Ph.D., has been selected as the new editor of NCFR’s research and policy briefs, which provide policymakers and others with research on families to help inform decisions that affect families at the federal, state, and local levels.

Research from the Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF), published by NCFR, was prominently cited in early June by various media outlets in stories pertaining to the role of fathers in the lives of their children, and the significance that fatherhood plays in earning potential. These stories were published in the week leading up to Father's Day.

In May, NCFR alerted Certified Family Life Educators (CFLEs) and faculty of CFLE-approved university programs in the state of Louisiana about House Bill 748. The proposed bill would have prohibited individuals from calling themselves certified in the state of Louisiana (e.g., Certified Family Life Educators) and would have weakened the value of the CFLE credential.

A recent project by WalletHub set out to find which U.S. states provide the best environment for working fathers. All fifty states and the District of Columbia were ranked across 20 key indicators of friendliness toward working fathers.

PublisherCognella and NCFR have partnered to recognize outstanding instructors through the creation of the Cognella Innovation in Teaching Award for Family Science. The award celebrates those teaching in higher education who go above and beyond to introduce cutting-edge teaching practices to their courses to better engage students and advance scholarship in the discipline.

The July 2018 issueof FR features articles on the topics of parent–child engagement and socialization including a study led by NCFR member Ali Crandall, Ph.D., that finds a link between a mother's emotional control and her children's behavior.

Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) Emeritus status has been awarded to retired CFLEs Marilyn J. Flick, Dana R. McDermott, and Sherod Miller, in recognition of their significant contributions to the field of Family Life Education.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has recently announced new fundingfor Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) using a sexual risk avoidance or sexual risk reduction framework. HHS plans to award up to 345 grants: tier 1 for program replication, and tier 2 for new and innovative strategies.

NCFR member Mihaela Robila, Ph.D., CFLE, was an invited panelist at the United Nations on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, to discuss the results of the "SDGs & Families" global research project in which she participated. She spoke on “Families and Sustainable Development Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.”

Recently published early-view articles available to subscribers are from an upcoming special issue, “Military and Veteran-Connected Families: Advances in Theory and Methodology,” edited by Casey J. Totenhagen, Ph.D., and David L. Albright, Ph.D.

I had the pleasure of traveling to three of NCFR’s affiliate conferences this spring, and these experiences filled me with inspiration, and a sense of clarity to the purpose of my role. The membership of NCFR is rich with diversity, and there is much we can learn from our colleagues in different regions of the country.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is seeking an academic representative to serve on the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) Advisory Board for a term beginning Jan. 1, 2019. Email your application materials by Aug. 15, 2018.

This year, NCFR celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Journal of Family Theory & Review (JFTR), the newest of the organization’s three scholarly journals. JFTR publishes original contributions in all areas of family theory, including advancing theories through critical and metatheoretical projects, and comprehensive reviews of literature and media.

Recently published Early-View Articles available to subscribers include: The Decision-Making Process for Disclosing Suicidal Ideation and Behavior to Family and Friends, and Understanding Emotion Socialization Through Naturalistic Observations of Parent–Child Interactions.

Each year, U.N. Headquarters in New York observes the International Day of Families with a special program. This year's observance on Tuesday, May 15 will be live streamed from 1:15–2:30 p.m. ET and prominently features several NCFR members.

The employability of Family Science students has been a persistent question raised by students, universities, parents, and faculty. Here are a few of NCFR's many resources designed to aid students, new professionals, and their mentors in advancing their careers.

New early-view articles are available for subscribers of the Journal of Marriage and Family, including one article that is currently free and open to the public, as indicated by the "open" padlock below.

U.S. federal agencies that regulate research using human subjects (known as the Common Rule) have proposed to further delay the implementation of recent revisions by an additional six months. The announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was made on April 19, 2018, setting a new compliance date of Jan. 21, 2019.

NCFR awarded honors to a record 56 college and university students who completed their academic programs in spring 2018. NCFR Honors Student Recognition is awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding achievements in academics, leadership, and community service in the discipline of Family Science.

The child and family studies graduate degree at the University of Southern Mississippi is the newest program to be approved by NCFR as meeting the criteria for the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) credential.

Suzanne R. Smith, Ph. D., has been selected by Georgia Southwestern State University to be their new provost and vice president for academic affairs, effective July 1, 2018, following a national search.

NCFR seeks authors to create original articles for the winter 2018 Family Focus section of NCFR Report and fall 2018 CFLE Network. These new resources will aid in the understanding and prevention of gun violence from a family perspective.

On March 27, 2018, the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA), of which NCFR is a member, released a statement opposing the decision by the U.S. Department of Commerce to include a question regarding citizenship in the 2020 Decennial Census.

The 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW62) took place at the U.N. on March 12–23, 2018. The priority theme was the empowerment of rural women and girls. NCFR's U.N. Representatives, Mihaela Robila and Bahira Sherif Trask, were in attendance. Session outcomes and closing remarks can be found on the UN Women website.

The Journal of Family Theory & Review (JFTR) invites articles for a special issue on social justice issues in American families. This special issue is broadly focused on social justice issues at the intersection of race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, socioeconomic status, and so forth.

If you signed up to review but have not received your email from OxfordAbstracts.com that gives directions for your assignments, please contact Cindy Winter immediately, and she will send a special email to you. If you are unable to complete your reviews by the deadline, please let Cindy know so that other reviewers can be assigned.

This issue features articles on the topics of immigrant and cross-national families; gender and sexual minority families and youth; family structure and union transitions; parental incarceration; and more.

The Advancing Family Science Section of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is accepting nominations for two new awards for 2018: the Outstanding Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Paper Award and the Advancing Family Science Legacy Award.

NCFR, which administers the CFLE credential, recognizes regionally accredited schools offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs with course work that includes content covering the 10 Family Life Education content areas.

NCFR seeks a research and policy brief editor to publish four briefs per calendar year that each include a 2-page executive summary. This position is to be filled immediately for a period of 36 months.

Alan J. Hawkins, Ph.D., distinguished professor of family life, has been named the director of the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. Dr. Hawkins has taught at BYU since 1990. Previously, BYU awarded him as the Camilla E. Kimball Endowed Professor of Home and Family Life in 2014.

The Journal of Family Theory & Review(JFTR) celebrates its 10th anniversary with the publication of the March 2018 issue. For this special issue, journal authors were asked to reflect on the past decade, and contemplate family theories from the perspective of Family Science in the past, present, and future. Article topics include theories on work-family, minority and health-related stress, resilience, queer families, and more.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) added its name to an open letter to the U.S. Congress on the subject of gun violence research, and how restrictions on its federal funding impact families.

A new issue of Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science (FR)is now available online for subscribers. The purpose of this special issue is to advance the general knowledge of queer families and their experiences in the discipline of Family Science.

NCFR seeks nominations and applications for the position of Editor of Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science (FR). The four-year term of the new editor will begin with the publication of the February 2020 issue.

Members of NCFR state/regional and student affiliates (local chapters) are invited to submit one or more proposals for roundtable discussion at the Affiliate Conference Workshop during the 2018 NCFR Annual Conference. This workshop offers affiliate members the opportunity to discuss what their respective affiliate councils are doing, how they are doing it, and gather new ideas that they can utilize moving forward.

Discussion groups are an online gathering place for NCFR members and Certified Family Life Educators (CFLE) to join conversations with members of their section, focus group, affiliate, CFLE community, and other member groups. Access to discussion groups is a benefit of being an NCFR member or CFLE.

Mark your calendar and register for NCFR's upcoming webinars! This series offers something for all types of family professionals including Family Life Educators, therapists, students, and faculty members of all levels. All are approved for CFLE contact hours of continuing education credit.

A new issue of Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science (FR)is now available online for subscribers. Volume 66, Issue 5 features articles on the topics of romantic and marital relations, parenting, and general interest.

The deadline to sign up as a reviewer has been extended to Monday, Feb. 19. Submit a conference proposal by March 1, 2018, by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. NCFR members are encouraged to ensure a high-quality program by serving as proposal reviewers.

Several recent studies of U.S. and European populations indicate that motherhood correlates to a gender pay gap between men and women. A new study of Danish men and women shows that even family-friendly Scandinavia follows this same trend. An article in the New York Times compares research from this and other studies and suggests solutions that could allow the gender pay gap to shrink.

Researchers have found a group of children who attended an intensive childhood education program from preschool to third grade were more likely to achieve an academic degree after high school, compared to a similar cohort that received other services. This 30-year study suggests that particular elements are more successful in early childhood intervention programs than others.

The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) is now accepting applications for thePatrice L. Engle Dissertation Grant. This grant is available for students pursuing a career in global early child development conducting research in low- or middle-income countries. The grant includes $5,000 USD to support dissertation research.

A new research brief examines the implications of nonstandard work schedules on Latino families’ ability to access child care options, especially those designed and subsidized to support low-income families. A new infographic that compares the average day of a Latino parent to their White and Black peers, according to data from the American Time Use Survey.

New early-view articles are available for subscribers of the Journal of Marriage and Family, including two articles that are currently free and open to the public, as indicated by the "open" padlock below.

This research overview provides gender terminology, points of intervention, and strategies for family, school, and community contexts. It is appropriate for parents, educators, and any community members who work with transgender youth.

The implementation of a newly revised U.S. policy that regulates research using human subjects (known as the Common Rule) has been delayed six months. The announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was made on Jan. 17, 2018, just two days before the federal policy was scheduled to take effect. The six-month delay pushes the effective date to July 19, 2018.

The Illinois Council on Family Relations (ILCFR) is accepting nominations for four awards. For specific details and eligibility requirements, please download a nomination form. Submit all nominations by March 1, 2018, to Stacy Thompson via email.

A recent project by WalletHub ranked all fifty U.S. states along 42 key indicators of family-friendliness to create a list of the best states for raising a family. The data set includes median family salaries, housing affordability, child care costs, unemployment, and more.

Editors of the journalFamily Science Review are now accepting manuscripts for their Professional Development and Reflection Corner (PDRC). The purpose of the PRDC is to publish manuscripts from Family Scientists and Family Life Educators that showcase a variety of perspectives and experiences across the Family Science discipline.

The February 2018 issue of Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF) is now available online to the general public, plus new early-view articles from JMF and Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science (FR) are now available for subscribers.

The U.N. General Assembly resolution on families aims to contribute to the systematic exchange of good practices in family policymaking. The Focal Point on the Family promises to build awareness and promote family-oriented policies and programs.

NCFR awarded honors to 25 college and university students who completed their academic programs in fall 2017. NCFR Honors Student Recognition is awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding achievements in academics, leadership, and community service in the family field.

A record number of university and college Family Science programs applied for NCFR’s Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) Academic Program Approval in 2017. This approval allows graduates of these programs to apply for provisional CFLE certification when they complete their coursework.

Five programs were newly approved in 2017, and another 26 renewed their approval. Congratulations to these programs!

Get involved in the leadership of YOUR organization! The vitality of NCFR depends on the dedication of its members to serve in leadership capacities at various levels of the organization. Vote in the February 2018 elections or nominate someone for the February 2019 slate.

The December 2017 issue of NCFR's Journal of Family Theory & Review is now available online. The journal publishes original contributions in all areas of family theory, including new advances in theory development, reviews of existing theory, and analyses of the interface of theory and method, as well as integrative and theory-based reviews of content areas, and book reviews.

The U.N. will host the 56th session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD56) at its New York Headquarters from January 29 – February 7, 2018. The agenda for this session includes reviewing U.N. plans and programs pertaining to family issues and policies. An informal briefing of the draft program will be webcast live on December 13, 2017, at 4:00 p.m. EST.

The Family Process Institute (FPI) is accepting applications for the 2018 New Writers’ Fellowship, due January 15, 2018. Eligible applicants include (a) students, (b) those who have earned their degree within the past five years and have been the first author on no more than two articles, or (c) persons who have been working in the field for some time, but are new to writing.

The Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF), published by NCFR, has been the leading research journal in the family field for more than 70 years. Several new articles were published in late November and early December 2017.

Nacogdoches Texas — Members of the Jacks Council on Family Relations, a student affiliate of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) at Stephen F. Austin State University, held a successful Thanksgiving food drive, collecting enough to feed 125 families.

On Nov. 15, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.4174, which will implement the recommendations from the report of the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking (CEP). The CEP was established in 2016 by a bipartisan, bicameral bill introduced by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). NCFR reported on the release of the CEP report back in September. The bill was sent to the U.S. Senate and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

The Elections Council encourages all members to nominate yourself or others for the February 2019 slate of election candidates. Here are the eligibility criteria to help you decide whether you would be willing to be nominated and/or to identify potential candidates for the upcoming election.

Every 10 to 15 years, beginning several decades ago, family scholars have developed a sourcebook publication that takes stock of emerging theory and methods and summarizes and advances the state of science in the discipline. It is one of the foundational resources on theory and methods in the discipline of Family Science.

Mathematica Policy Research seeks studies for a comprehensive review of the evidence base for home visiting programs. The review is being conducted for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help inform federal policy and initiatives. Home visiting programs are invited to submit their model if they meet the eligibility requirements.

The American Sociological Association (ASA) seeks submissions for its 2018 annual meeting. Proposals are being accepted for papers, courses, workshops, preconferences, and more. All submissions must be sent electronically through the ASA website. The deadline is Jan. 11, 2018.

ASA's annual meeting will be Aug. 11-14, 2018 in Philadelphia. The theme is "Feeling Race: An invitation to Explore Racialized Emotions."

The National Council on Family Relations’ (NCFR) Board of Directors has appointed Brad van Eeden-Moorefield, Ph.D., CFLE, to be program chair for the 2020 NCFR Annual Conference, scheduled to be held in St. Louis. The program chair’s primary duties are to select the theme, identify the plenary speakers, and prepare the call for abstracts for a particular year’s conference.

The human development and family studies undergraduate degree at Purdue University Northwest is the newest degree program to be approved by NCFR as meeting the criteria for the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) credential.

NCFR members April L. Few-Demo, Áine M. Humble, Melissa A. Curran, and NCFR Fellow Sally A. Lloyd have been named the recipients of Wiley's 2017 Alexis Walker Award, which recognizes the best Family Science paper published in a Wiley journal in 2015 and 2016.

Fall is always a busy time of year for colleges and universities, and the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is pleased to share several updates about institutions with degree programs in Family Science.

The Illinois Council on Family Relations (ILCFR), a state affiliate of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), is pleased to announce its annual conference on "Resilience Among Urban & Rural Families" on April 27, 2018 at the Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois. Proposals are sought from undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, educators, practitioners, social service providers, Family Life Educators, and members of the community.

Proposals are due Feb. 15, 2018 and presenters will be notified by March 15, 2018.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HSS) seeks public comments on a draft of its strategic plan FY 2018 – 2022. Professionals who work with families are encouraged to share their insights on how this plan will positively or negatively impact families.

The percentage of adults in the U.S. living without a partner or spouse has increased in the past 10 years, according to the Pew Research Center. In 2017, the share is 42%, up from 39% in 2007, when the Census Bureau began measuring detailed data on cohabitation. This trend was especially pronounced in young adults age 35 and under, growing from 56% to 61%. Adults 65 and older was the only age group that saw an increase in partners living together.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is delighted to announce that Mark A. Fine, Ph.D. has been named the new editor of the Journal of Family Theory & Review (JFTR), one of NCFR’s three family-research journals. He will begin his four-year term as editor of the peer-reviewed, quarterly journal — which publishes original contributions in all areas of family theory — with the publication of its March 2019 issue.

The Society for Research in Human Development (SRHD) is seeking proposals for its 2018 Biennial Meeting to be held March 22-24 in Plano, Texas. Categories to be reviewed include papers, posters, and symposia by professionals and graduate students. Undergraduate students are also invited to submit posters. Proposals are due Nov. 1, 2017.

American Journal of Community Psychology seeks papers for a special issue on the policies and programs that support children and youth in low-resource communities. Proposals may be conceptual, empirical, or praxis-oriented. Submissions are invited from researchers across all disciplines, and from practice and policy professionals. The deadline for proposals is Nov. 15, 2017.

The American Psychological Association (APA) seeks comments from the general public — including psychologists, health care professionals, researchers, clients/patients and their families — on its "Clinical Practice Guideline for the Behavioral Treatment of Obesity and Overweight in Children and Adolescents." Input from Family Science professionals can be helpful in providing a family perspective. A draft of the document is available online and will remain open for comments until Nov. 5, 2017.

Brenda J. Lohman, Ph.D. is named the associate dean for research and graduate education in the College of Human Sciences at Iowa State University. Debra L. Berke, Ph.D., CFLE, was recently interviewed following the deadly shooting in Las Vegas and gave tips for parents to help children cope following tragedies.

NCFR members and staff mourn the loss of life following the Las Vegas mass shooting, now being called the deadliest in modern U.S. history. We give thanks to all the first responders who care for people on the scene of violence and tragedy. For the professionals who work with families in the aftermath of these events, we have gathered resources for helping individuals and families cope, and also to help children understand and process these events.

NCFR will continue to update these collections as new materials become available and relevant. Questions? Please contact Trip Sullivan.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Robert Hughes, Jr. as the 2017 recipient of the Ernest G. Osborne Award, which is given to an NCFR member who has excelled in teaching family science and providing service to families through teaching.

On Sept. 14, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 211-198 to pass an omnibus spending bill for fiscal year (FY) 2018, which consists of 12 spending bills. COSSA (The Consortium of Social Science Associations), of which NCFR is a member, has been covering the FY 2018 spending bills' progress.

American Psychological Association (APA) seeks proposals for its 2018 Annual Convention in San Francisco on August 9-12, 2018. If you are planning to submit a program or individual proposal, the deadlines are as follows: Collaborative Program Proposals: October 13, 2017; Standard Division Proposals: December 1, 2017

Eastern Sociological Society (ESS) seeks papers for its Annual Meeting in Baltimore, MD on February 22-25, 2018. The paper session is titled "Gender and Work" and focuses on the gender gaps in the workplace. Papers on theoretical perspectives or policy implications are especially welcome. The deadline for abstracts (250 words or less) is Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Yan Ruth Xia and,posthumously, Randal D. Day as the 2017 recipients of the Felix Berardo Scholarship Award, which is given to NCFR members whose work has been noted for excellence in mentoring one or more junior colleagues.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Rachel Arocho as the 2017 recipient of the NCFR Student Award, which is given to an NCFR graduate student member who has demonstrated excellence as a student and shows great potential for contributing to Family Science.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Joy Heafner as the 2017 recipient of the Jessie Bernard Outstanding Research Proposal from a Feminist Perspective Award, which is given to a graduate student or new professional who has demonstrated excellence in research and potential contribution to feminist scholarship. Her paper is titled “A Qualitative Study of Feminist Therapists’ Experiences of Managed Care.”

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Christina J. Diaz and Jeremy E. Fiel as the 2017 recipients of the Reuben Hill Award, which is given to the author(s) of an outstanding article or book that combines theory and methodology to analyze and interpret a significant family issue. Their article is titled “The Effect(s) of Teen Pregnancy: Reconciling Theory, Methods, and Findings.”

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Megan L. Haselschwerdt as the 2017 recipient of the Cindy Winter Scholarship, which is given to a student or new professional who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and service in the discipline of Family Science.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Jordan A. Arellanes as the 2017 recipient of the Feldman Outstanding Research Proposal for Research in Family Policy Award, which recognizes a graduate student or new professional who has demonstrated excellence in research and potential contribution to family policy studies, particularly in the areas of gender/women's issues or poverty. His paper is titled “Investing in the Future: Latino Family Beliefs on Educational Attainment.”

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Leigh A. Leslie as the 2017 recipient of the Kathleen Briggs Outstanding Mentor Award, which recognizes an outstanding mentor of students and new professionals in the area of marriage and family therapy.

NCFR member Hui Liu, Ph.D., along with co-editors Corinne Reczek, and Lindsey Wilkinson, seek manuscripts addressing topics related to same-sex unions and well-being for potential publication in their book, Same-Sex Unions, Health and Well-Being. The edited volume would be part of The Politics of Marriage and Gender: Global Issues in Local Contexts book series published by Rutgers University Press.

Blake Wilson, father of four from Roswell, Georgia, doesn't just ask his children to say please or thank you. He dons a mask and his best crime-fighter growl before putting his unique style of parenting into action.

The Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF), published by NCFR, has been the leading research journal in the family field for more than 70 years. Recently published Early-View Articles available to subscribers include: "Scaling Back and Finding Flexibility: Gender Differences in Parents' Strategies to Manage Work–Family Conflict" by Marisa Young and Scott Schieman.

Our hearts go out to all families and individuals affected by the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, and forest fires along the West Coast. This page will be updated with new resources and information as they become available.

The Oct. 2017 issue of Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF) is now available online and features articles on the topics of Poverty, Wealth, and the Economy; Sexual Minorities; Families and Incarceration; and more.

Children See. Children Do. This is the message of this commercial from Australia's National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN). In reflection of recent events of violence and hatred, it's worth remembering the role that adults play in shaping the values and beliefs of children.

On Sept. 7, the Commission released The Promise of Evidence-Based Policymaking, the result of a year's worth of collaborative work. The bipartisan commission was tasked to develop strategies to aid the U.S. government's evidence-building and policymaking, including how to more effectively use data already begin collected.

On Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intent to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration program, instituted by the Obama administration. The end of DACA and other immigration policy issues pose many potential impacts on families. NCFR invites you to learn more about these issues and join the conversation.

The annual publication, Contemporary Perspectives in Family Research(CFPR), seeks manuscripts on the theme of ‘The Work-Family Interface: Spillover, Complications, and Challenges.’ for its 2018 volume. Submissions are welcome from across various methodologies.

As the Northern hemisphere savors its last tastes of summer, families everywhere will be taking final trips to the lake, the shore, perhaps even a carnival, or baseball game. You might not think to look underwater to enjoy some natural fireworks, but that's just what the New York Times did in this video featuring deep sea creatures that can emit their own light using bioluminescence.

The Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF) recently published Early-View Articles available to subscribers: "Separating Spheres? Diverging Trends in Youth's Gender Attitudes About Work and Family" and "Neighborhood Poverty and Children's Academic Skills and Behavior in Early Elementary School."

Child Trends, a U.S. research organization dedicated to addressing policies pertaining to children, youth, and families, has created a news media project. The goal of Child Trends News Service (CTNS) is to create video news reports (in English and Spanish) on child development research and distribute them to the general public through television networks and other news media.

"It's easy to put people in boxes" begins this advertisement from a Danish television network. As Danes walk out onto the soundstage, the narrator describes the people in terms of "Us" and "Them" - characteristics that separate people from each other. Quickly, the video takes a turn and the participants - and viewers - soon learn what many of them have in common.

The Centre for ﻿Ethics and Poverty Research﻿ of the University of Salzburg is calling for papers for its 2018 Salzburg Workshop in Philosophy and Poverty. This two-day workshop will be May 17 - 18, 2018 at the University of Salzburg. Papers can be on any philosophical inquiry into the subject of poverty.

NCFR and its members have gathered resources for coping in the wake of violence in Charlottesville on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. We are stunned and saddened that hate like this can still occur. On this page you will find resources designed to help those affected on any level to cope in the aftermath of this tragic event.

Family Science Review is calling for papers for a special issue titled “Are We Doing What is Best for the Children? Parenting Arrangements on Children’s Outcomes.” This issue has an anticipated publication date of Feb. 2018. The editors welcome articles on family research, theory, policy, and education from a variety of perspectives. Completed manuscripts must be submitted by Nov. 1, 2017.

NCFR is committed to providing our members with a wealth of resources related to the research and understanding of families. Despite our vast collection, we can only marvel in awe at the sheer size of the US Library of Congress. If you don't know much about this national treasure, you're not alone. The video below provides a great overview of the library and their mission to provide “meaning and context to the human condition.”

The child and family development undergraduate degree at the University of Central Missouri is the newest degree program to be approved by NCFR as meeting the criteria for the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) credential. Between May and July, these nine previously approved schools renewed their CFLE-approved status for the next five years.

L'Arche, an international organization that creates communities for people with intellectual disabilities, responds to the events on July 26, 2016 in Japan, one of the largest mass murders in their country since World War II.

Editage, a global scholarly communications company, is offering a free course on ethical publication in China for a limited time. The online course titled "Avoid retractions: Publish ethically" details the different types of ethical violations in research publications complete with case studies, best practices, and steps on how to avoid these issues.

The creators of Macro Room zoom in close on everyday objects to create stunning and beautiful displays in their "macro videos." On their latest project, they "dived into the hypnotising beauty of colored ink in water and the interaction of this substance with different elements."

NCFR awarded honors to four college and university students who completed their academic programs in summer 2017. NCFR Honors Student Recognition is awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding achievements in academics, leadership, and community service in the family field.

The Journal of Family and Economic Issuesseeks manuscripts for a special issue focused on advances and development in scholarship related to student loan debt. Student loan debt statistics show an increase in debt burden among households, spurring discussions about the long-term implications this type of debt might have in shaping and influencing individual and family behavior.

Several new early-view articles were recently published online byFamily Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science. Since 1951, the journal has published basic and applied articles that are original, innovative and interdisciplinary and that focus on diverse family forms and issues.

The Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF), published by NCFR, has been the leading research journal in the family field for more than 70 years. The August issue of JMF features articles on the topics of educational achievement, work/family balance, fertility in young adulthood, and more.

An advertisement for CBeebies, a TV channel of the BBC, shows children answering the question "What makes you two different from each other?" A good reminder that when it comes to differences, children see things differently than adults.

The Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) is a nonprofit organization working to promote the use of social and behavioral science research and federal policies that positively impact the conduct of research. This membership allows NCFR to stay abreast of how national legislation impacts social science. Members of COSSA include many U.S. colleges and universities, research centers and institutes, professional and disciplinary associations, and scientific societies.

Summer in the Northern Hemisphere is a time when many families plan fun activities away from work and school, but what can Family Science teach us about how to best use this time? For a limited period, we've unlocked the Summer 2016 issue of CFLE Network to the general public (normally only available for Certified Family Life Educators).

The Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) invites abstracts (sessions, papers and posters) for the program of the 78th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA, April 3-7, 2018. The theme of the Program is “Sustainable Futures.” The society is a multidisciplinary association that focuses on problem definition and resolution. Papers from all disciplines are welcome. The deadline for abstract submission is Oct. 15, 2017.

The Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN) is seeking applicants for 2018 Early Career Work and Family Fellowships. The goal of the program is to help promising young scholars establish career successes, as well as integrate them within the WFRN research community. Fifteen scholars will be selected for the program. Fellows receive a one year membership in the WFRN, conference registration, and $500 to help defer expenses to attend a preconference meeting and the 2018 WFRN Conference (to be held June 21-23 in Washington DC).

The results of the annual Journal Citation Report, a standard measure for scientific journals, are now available for the Journal of Marriage and Family, Family Relations, and Journal of Family Theory & Review. This measurement includes impact factors and a rank by subject category in the Social Sciences Citation Index maintained by Clarivate Analytics.

The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) intends to award up to three grants to support dissertation research on healthy marriage policy issues (HMRF). These grants are intended to address issues of significance to inform policy decisions and solutions, particularly for underserved/understudied populations (e.g., low-income families, minority populations), utilize rigorous research methodology (both primary data collection and secondary data analysis), and help inform the development of future intervention research.

Filmmaker Corbyn Tyson explores what it means to be a good dad. All of us are affected by our father. Maybe he wasn't there, maybe he was there too much. What did your parents do right and what did they do wrong?

This issue of the Journal of Family Theory & Review features a special section on Work and Family, and articles on topics including 'coming out' to family as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, the mental health of African Americans, and family presence in the Intensive Care Unit.

An editorial team has been selected to lead the development of a new Sourcebook of Family Theory and Research, a reference book of theory and methods for family scholars and students. The current version of the book was published in 2005.

NCFR members: Submit news and announcements about yourself or other members — professional promotions, awards, job changes, involvement in a notable project or event, recognition for outstanding work, etc. — so we can share with your colleagues.

Jamie Scott shot this incredible time-lapse video of blooming flowers. The amazing results took over three years to shoot, filled 8 terrabytes of memory, and required thoughtful and careful logistics and planning.

Fellow status in NCFR is an honor awarded to living members of NCFR based on their outstanding contributions to Family Science. Nominations of all family professionals who have contributed to the family field are encouraged. Among the recognized areas of contributions are scholarship, teaching, outreach, practice, and professional service, including service to NCFR. By definition, outstanding contributions are those that have broad impact on the field and are enduring over time.

NCFR awarded NCFR Honors Student Recognition to 47 students graduating from university or college family programs in spring 2017. The NCFR Honors Student Recognition program recognizes students for their outstanding achievements in academics, leadership, and community service in the family field.

NCFR members: Submit news and announcements about yourself or other members — professional promotions, awards, job changes, involvement in a notable project or event, recognition for outstanding work, etc. — so we can share with your colleagues.

Several new early-view articles were published online in the past week by the Journal of Marriage and Family, including articles about low-income childless young adults' marriage and fertility frameworks, predictors of unintended pregnancy, and more.

NCFR members: Submit news and announcements about yourself or other members — professional promotions, awards, job changes, involvement in a notable project or event, recognition for outstanding work, etc. — so we can share with your colleagues.

Iain Armitage loves theater — so much so that he has attended and recorded video reviews of dozens and dozens of shows. Watch the now-8-year-old give his insightful review and analysis of the Puccini opera Turandot.

NCFR awarded honors to 47 college and university students who completed their academic programs in spring 2017. NCFR Honors Student Recognition is awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding achievements in academics, leadership, and community service in the family field.

The human services/family studies master's program at Warner Pacific College and the human development & family studies undergraduate program at the University of Hawaii-Manoa are the newest degree programs to be approved by NCFR as meeting the criteria for the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) credential.

Expanding the Bench, an initiative led by the Research, Evaluation, Evidence, and Data (REED) unit of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, is seeking applications for its Leaders in Equitable Evaluation and Diversity (LEEAD) program.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) membership has elected Leigh A. Leslie, Ph.D., as board president-elect of the NCFR Board of Directors. Dr. Leslie is an associate professor in the Department of Family Science at the University of Maryland.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) membership has elected April L. Few-Demo, Ph.D., as a new Board Member-at-Large on the NCFR Board of Directors. Dr. Few-Demo is currently associate professor in the department of human development at Virginia Tech.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) membership has elected Bethany Letiecq, Ph.D., as a new Member-at-Large on the NCFR Board of Directors. Dr. Letiecq is currently associate professor and director of human development and family science at George Mason University.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) membership has elected Brian G. Ogolsky, Ph.D., as a new Member-at-Large on the NCFR Board of Directors. Dr. Ogolsky is currently assistant professor of human development and family studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) membership has elected Tammy S. Harpel, Ph.D., CFLE, as the new President-elect of the NCFR Affiliate Council. Dr. Harpel is currently associate professor of human development & family science at Illinois State University.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) membership has elected Andrea Roach,Ph.D., as a new Students and New Professionals Board Representative on the NCFR Board of Directors. Dr. Roach is assistant professor of child, family, and consumer sciences at California State University, Fresno.

The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) has announced its 2017 Summer Program in Quantitative Methods of Social Research, which runs from May through August, 2017, and offers more than 80 courses in cities in the United States and around the world.

The 2017 affiliate conference workshop will feature roundtable presentations. Affiliate members are encouraged to submit one or more proposals for roundtable discussion that highlights what their affiliate council is doing well.

The Human Development & Family Studies undergraduate program at Winthrop University has met the standards and criteria required for the provisional Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation from the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR).

Early Childhood Research Quarterly is calling for papers for a special issue focusing on research examining the utilization, access, and impacts of early care and education (ECE) programs for Latino children and their families.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) Board of Directors and Inclusion and Diversity Committee are deeply concerned about the executive order on immigration, as it runs counter to our values of inclusion and diversity, and threatens to separate and bring harm to families around the world.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) has conferred its prestigious Fellow status on Dr. Libby Balter Blume, Professor of Psychology at the University of Detroit Mercy and Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE).

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) has conferred its prestigious Fellow status on Stephen T. Russell, Priscilla Pond Flawn Regents Professor in Child Development in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Texas-Austin.

To combat the nuisance of being stuck in the rain under an umbrella, multimedia artist Ugoita has created one that translates the raindrops into lights and electronic tones. Gene Kelly would've approved.

The Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research (BCTR) at Cornell University has announced that they are recruiting a two-year Postdoctoral Research Fellow with interests in research on poverty, social policy, and child well-being.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) has conferred its prestigious Fellow status on Adriana J. Umaña-Taylor, Professor in the School of Social and Family Dynamics and Foundation Professor and Executive Director, Latino Resilience Enterprise, at Arizona State University.

Learn about recent work done by Cynthia Osborne, Ph.D., NCFR member, and the director of the Center of Health and Social Policy (CHASP) at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.

Since 2013, when the NCFR membership began electing members to the Inclusion and Diversity Committee (IDC), the IDC has been experimenting with various organizational tools to foster discussions about inclusion, diversity, and social justice issues.

The Oklahoma Council on Family Relations (OKCFR) will be hosting its annual conference April 6–7, 2017. The theme, "The Business of Building a Family," will emphasize not only the vital building blocks of family resilience but also the factors practitioners require to build a healthy business model to best support families.

We hope you enjoyed the 2016 NCFR Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota! The Families and Health Section presented 74 posters, five symposia, six paper sessions, one workshop, and a lightning paper sessions.

The challenge for many of us is to keep track of all the ideas we have and plans we have made. Sometimes we get bogged down in the details of our daily lives, and it is hard to recall what we had decided to do in the future. I keep a pile of papers

Bridget A. Walsh, Ph.D., CFLE, is the recipient of the 2016 Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) Special Recognition Award, presented at the CFLE Reception at the 2016 NCFR Annual Conference in Minneapolis.

Participation in a prevention program called Strong African American Families (SAAF) has been shown to remove the effects of poverty on brain development, according to a University of Georgia report. NCFR member Gene Brody was the report's lead author.

A November report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education looks at the key considerations for states and provides case studies of the work that's been done in several states.

In 2016, over 80,000 refugees were admitted into the United States, the most since 1999. Where they went varied dramatically. Pew Research Center looks at the most, and least, common states for refugees to have settled.

The National Council on Family Relations and its Board of Directors are pleased to announce the two recipient projects of the organization's 2015-16 Innovation Grants initiative, which awards up to two $10,000 research grants per year.

How researchers and policymakers can improve programs and policies by using behavioral insights to better understand the everyday challenges faced by individuals who can benefit from government programs.

How important is it to a marriage to share household chores? According to results from Pew Research Center's Religious Landscape Study, over half of married adults say shared housework is "very important."

Demographic changes, including a rising number of older adults and fewer women of childbearing age, have resulted in a record 17 states where more whites died than were born in 2014. Learn more and look at the policy implications that may result.

Research from the Public Religion Research Institute shows that 62 percent of young adults who were raised in a religion abandoned their faith before they turned 18. Find out how parents and religious leaders are responding.

NCFR awarded honors to 24 college and university students who completed their academic programs in 2016. NCFR Honors Student Recognition is awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding achievements in academics, leadership, and community service in the family field.

The Society for Researtch on Adolescents (SRA) is calling for papers for a special issue of the Journal of Reaearch on Adolescence. The issue's focus will be "Processes of Religious and Spiritual Influence in Adolescence."

2017 is the 125th anniversary of the American Psychological Association as well as the 30th anniversary of the Journal of Family Psychology. To honor these milestones the Journal of Family Psychology is publishing a special issue exploring the advances in methods and measurement in the field of family psychology.

Predicting when someone will commit suicide is extremely difficult. Seeing computer science as an opportunity to understand and address the causes of suicide, this study uses machine learning algorithms to classify subjects into three groups, with 85% accuracy.

Family Studies, the blog of the Institute of Family Studies, examines why students in Eastern Asian and Pacific countries complete secondary school at higher rates than students in Latin America and the Caribbean, which is a dramatic change from 50 years ago.

Where do teachers, education leaders and decision makers turn when they need evidence-based instructional practices that may work to help struggling readers, or want to use research to address other educational challenges?

Using data from the National Survey of Family Growth (1995 and 2011/13), this profile presents changes in the experiences of marrying and cohabiting among young adult women (aged 25-29) between 1995 and 2011/13.

The ESS welcomes submissions, drawing on every methodology, addressing any and all issues of interest to sociologists.ESS president John Torpey (CUNY Graduate Center) has proposed that the 2017 meeting will focus on the theme "The End of the World as We Know It?":

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Diamond Y. Bravo as the 2016 recipient of the John L. and Harriette P. McAdoo Dissertation Award, which provides support for the recipient to complete an approved doctoral dissertation with a focus on issues impacting ethnic minority families.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Emma G. Hooper as the 2016 recipient of the Ruth Hathaway Jewson Award, which funds the best dissertation proposal submitted by a doctoral candidate in Family Science.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize James Kale Monk as the 2016 recipient of the NCFR Student Award, which is given to an NCFR graduate student member who has demonstrated excellence as a student and shows great potential for contributing to Family Science.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Dr. Jennifer Randles as the 2016 recipient of the Jessie Bernard Contribution to Feminist Scholarship Paper Award, which is given to a graduate student or new professional who has published or is about to publish a paper using feminist frameworks and methodologies in research.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Dr. Katherine R. Allen as the 2016 recipient of the Ernest W. Burgess Award, which recognizes an NCFR member's outstanding scholarly achievement in the study of families

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Dr. Marisa Young, Dr. Jean E. Wallace, and Alicia J. Polachek as the 2016 recipients of the Reuben Hill Award, which is given to the author(s) of an outstanding article or book that combines theory and methodology to analyze and interpret a significant family issue.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Dr. Raeann R. Hamon as the 2016 recipient of the Felix Berardo Scholarship Award, which is given to an NCFR member whose work has been noted for excellence in mentoring one or more junior colleagues.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Dr. Sharon M. Ballard as the 2016 recipient of the Margaret E. Arcus Award, which recognizes an NCFR member who has made significant contributions to the field of family life education through research, theory, publication, practice, program development, and/or training.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Shawn Mendez as the 2016 recipient of the Jessie Bernard Outstanding Research Proposal from a Feminist Perspective Award, which is given to a graduate student or new professional who has demonstrated excellence in research and potential contribution to feminist scholarship.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to recognize Woosang Hwang as the 2016 recipient of the Feldman Outstanding Research Proposal for Research in Family Policy award, which recognizes a graduate student or new professional who has demonstrated excellence in research and potential contribution to family policy studies, particularly in the areas of gender/women's issues or poverty.

Editors of the Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work seek papers by Dec. 1 for a special issue: "Intergenerational Relationships and Well-Being of East Asian Older Adults in Migrant Families."

NCFR members: Submit news and announcements about yourself or other members — professional promotions, awards, job changes, involvement in a notable project or event, recognition for outstanding work, etc. — so that we can share with your colleagues.

Funding opportunities are available from the National Institute of Corrections, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Society for Research in Child Development, and the William T. Grant Foundation.

NCFR members: Submit news and announcements about yourself or other members — professional promotions, awards, job changes, involvement in a notable project or event, recognition for outstanding work, etc. — so that we can share with your colleagues.

Deborah A. Widiss, J.D., will receive the Feldman Award for her Journal of Family Theory & Review article, "Legal recognition of same-sex relationships: New possibilities for research on the role of marriage law in household labor allocation."

NCFR members: Submit news and announcements about yourself or other members — professional promotions, awards, job changes, involvement in a notable project or event, recognition for outstanding work, etc. — so that we can share with your colleagues.

Very few people will argue against the importance of policy in daily life, yet there are still many scholars, both novice and experienced, who do not include policy implications in crafting the research and discussion sections of their research articles.

Longtime NCFR member Marcia L. Lasswell died June 16, 2017. A licensed marriage, family, and child therapist, she retired after a 50-year career at Cal Poly Pomona, where she served as a department chair and professor emerita. Lasswell was a fellow and past president of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as a past president of the Groves Conference.

NCFR members: Submit news and announcements about yourself or other members — professional promotions, awards, job changes, involvement in a notable project or event, recognition for outstanding work, etc. — so that we can share with your colleagues.

NCFR members: Submit news and announcements about yourself or other members — professional promotions, awards, job changes, involvement in a notable project or event, recognition for outstanding work, etc. — so that we can share with your colleagues.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) announces that Judith A. Myers-Walls, Ph.D., CFLE, has been selected as the editor of the Family Focus section of NCFR's quarterly member magazine, NCFR Report.

Thank you to all members who volunteered their time reviewing conference proposals and serving as facilitators and discussants for our various sessions. The success of our sessions depends in large part on your hard work prior to and during the conference.

I hope you enjoyed the various Families and Health sessions and activities at the 2015 annual conference in Vancouver. I am very fortunate to serve the Section with such a great team of Section officers, and we look forward to continuing to work on your behalf to enhance our Section.

I share my personal stories related to family-friendly workplace policies in the hopes that others will take up family policy education and advocacy in the academy. There remains a great deal of work left to do, and a growing body of resources is available to support these efforts.

As my first year as chair of the Advancing Family Science Section comes to an end I have been looking back at what we have accomplished as a Section and what I have learned as chair. We made significant progress on Section goals.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is delighted to announce that Kristi Williams, Ph.D., of The Ohio State University, has been named the new editor of the Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF). She will begin her four-year term as editor of the peer-reviewed journal — which has been the leading research journal in the family field for more than 70 years — with the publication of its February 2017 issue.

The National Council on Family Relations and its Board of Directors are pleased to announce the two recipient projects of the organization's 2015-16 Innovation Grants initiative, which awards up to two $10,000 research grants per year.

Some brief research on NCFR award namesake Ernest G. Osborne paints a picture of who he was as an educator, a champion for the field, and a person. He sounds like a guy I would have enjoyed getting to know.

I hope this report finds you enjoying the last vestiges of summer and looking forward to the start of a new academic year and, of course, the NCFR Annual Conference in Vancouver. The Family Policy Section has put together an exciting program

NCFR Section business has now moved online, so Section meetings at the Annual Conference will be more focused on substantive matters. Given that the AFS Section has clarified its role to focus on pedagogical and administrative aspects of the discipline of family science, the Section meeting will emphasize these matters.

The Annual Conference is quickly approaching, and we are in for quite a treat this year! The conference program is full of paper and poster presentations across a wide array of topics relevant to family therapists.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling in a landmark case regarding marriage for same-sex couples — Obergefell v. Hodges. Learn more about the questions the justices are considering and the possible outcomes.

A vibrant and effective section is based largely on the contributions of its members. Therefore, as we move ahead in implementing these new initiatives, we invite you to take this journey with us. We need to hear about what you like and what's not that helpful. And we need more people to serve in various capacities.

In addition to lots of work being done on putting together the conference program, some of the initiatives that the AFS Section had identified to help reach the section's goals are also proceeding smoothly.

Patricia Hyjer Dyk, Ph.D., Department of Community & Leadership Development, University of Kentucky

We need to have family scholars embedded in programs such as the Fulbright Scholar Program. A critical element of the application process is a Letter of Invitation from a host institution. NCFR members in the International Section have an opportunity to foster these cross national relationships and develop collaborative research projects.

The annual conference of the Utah Council of Family Relations will be held April 3, 2015, at Utah State University, in Logan, Utah, with the theme "Relationship Education: Research, Application, and Policy."

NCFR's statement on families and family policy asserts that public policy needs to be evaluated in terms of its intended or unintended effects on families, even when (at face value) policy seems unrelated to family life. Whereas this assertion certainly resonates with NCFR members who explicitly identify as family policy scholars, we invite all members of the NCFR community to reflect on it and to engage actively around policy matters.

I think our greatest accomplishment over this last year has been to raise the profile of our Section—in part by debating the Section's name but, more importantly, by questioning the purpose of the Section and its relationship to the field.

Excellence in research and theory is increasingly a collaborative and interdisciplinary endeavor. As we learned in our "dual section" meeting in Baltimore with our FP colleagues, cross-fertilization promotes new ideas and problem solving. Similarly, society's most critical problems require diverse disciplines and perspectives to foster dialogue and understanding.

The National Council on Family Relations and its Board of Directors are pleased to announce the two recipient projects of the organization's 2014-15 Innovation Grants program, which awards up to two $10,000 research grants per year.

My hope for this Family Science Report column is to convey to you how NCFR is advancing policy, career resources, research, the discipline of family science, including family life education and more, one topic at a time. For the first installment, I'd like to share updates regarding NCFR's policy initiatives.

In the winter 2013 issue of Report, I talked about the future of family science and how there was less clarity and certainty around what we call our field — in part because it lacked a uniform identity. Members have continued to discuss this issue with interest, and as a result we will move forward into formal work aimed at resolving the identity crisis of the field as a whole.

The Family Policy Section is pleased to announce that FP Section members who are students and new professionals are eligible to apply for three Feldman Awards, which are presented at the NCFR Annual Conference in memory of Harold and Margaret Feldman, NCFR members and pioneers in the field of family policy.

New Fellows have been announced, progress on policy work and career resources have been made, and a project working to create a stronger identity for the family science/family studies field will carry on into 2014.

We have generated a long list of potential new names for the Family Science section and, in part, have encouraged various stimulating sessions and workshops on the current and future status of the Family Science discipline.

To create a communications network that will provide consistent internet coverage for areas that are typically out of range, Google came up with Project Loon, which floats huge balloons into the atmosphere.

Early Childhood Research Quarterly (ECRQ) is calling for papers for a special issue to examine utilization, access, and impacts of early care and education (ECE) programs for Latino children and their families.

Lisa Lucas, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation, offers her "Spectacular Take" on how books are able to help us develop empathy and understanding for people with very different backgrounds and perspectives. Books “connect us to one another. They make people who are not like us more human.”

"What do you say to an 8-year-old child of undocumented immigrant parents?" The fear of deportation or family separation can be harmful to a child's emotional development and children who are caught in the middle may suffer trauma as a result of the immigration process.

Child Trends, a U.S. research organization dedicated to addressing policies pertaining to children, youth, and families, recently launched an initiative to create video news reports (in English and Spanish) on child development research and distribute them to the general public through television networks and other news media.

The National Science Foundation put together this intriguing video which considers how social science can play an active role in the preparations and response to extreme weather, such as hurricanes, and other natural disasters. Family Scientists, in particular could lend their expertise to help emergency shelters make decisions about accommodating families.

While listening to music stimulates the brain in many ways, playing an instrument gives the whole brain a major workout. In this video, learn what exactly is going on here, and why learning a new instrument (or dusting off an old one) will provide many long-term health benefits.

El Día De Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday celebrated all over the world beginning Oct. 31 and ending on Nov. 2. This year in the United States, the Day of the Dead is seemingly everywhere with colorful sugar skulls and skeletons being sold by major retailers, and a new animated Pixar movie, "Coco," that prominently features the holiday.

Youth educator Brooks Gibbs teaches strategies for conflict resolution, placing an emphasis on emotional resilience and being kind to others. In the exercise below, he demonstrates how bullying is about dominance behavior, that is, having power over another person.

Meet Hilde Kate Lysiak, an 11-year-old journalist who publishes her own local newspaper in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, the Orange Street News. When she was 9, Hilde covered a murder story in her neighborhood that quickly drew criticism from around the world. Hilde's response was picked up by major media outlets and can be viewed in the video below.

'Tis the season! Families around the world will gather for holidays in December including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas. But what do we do when we can't be with the ones we love? We make the best of it, as seen in this holiday advertisement directed by Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Rushmore) and staring Adrien Brody.

Thinking about the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics in February, here is a "trailer" for the 2016 Paralympics Games. Featuring more than 140 individuals — including non-athletes as well as Paralympic stars — it is a joyous celebration of the ability of people with disabilities.

This week's video examines the various attributes of the world's human population by scaling down the world’s population from 7.5 billion to 100 people. These smaller numbers make it easier to understand geographical distributions, as well as levels of wealth inequality that exist. It's also worth noting that more people in the world have cell phones than toilets.

The effects of divorce and remarriage can put a tremendous strain on the health and well-being of a family unit, particularly when children are in the equation. Many families successfully flourish in their new state of "normal." However, it is rare that coparents and stepparents have the opportunity to come together and simply share their feelings with one another.

Iconic filmmaker Warren Miller died last week at age 93. Beginning in the late-1940s, Miller began creating his signature outdoor adventure films, most notably focusing on skiing and snowboarding. He directed and narrated over 750 films, and they are still watched by audiences in ski resorts across the country. Miller's films are known for their stunning photography, wide appeal, and distinctive humor. His son, Kurt Miller, shared on NPR his father's life philosophy: "Spend more time with your family and friends doing something fun outdoors."

In celebration of this year's International Day of Women and Girls in Science (on Feb. 11), this week's video features Katherine Jin — a young female scientist whose scientific innovation helps safeguard health workers from deadly infections.

We're not quite sure what Tchaikovsky would think of this reimagining of his classic "Waltz of the Flowers" orchestrated with synchronized marbles, dominoes, and magnets. But since spring is still on its way in the Northern Hemisphere, many of us may have to be content with these silly contraptions until we can see some actual flowers blossoming up from the ground.

The biohazard symbol is one of the most recognizable icons in the world since it was introduced in 1966. But will it still be recognized—and understood—by civilizations in the future? A research project at the Department of Energy wants to find out.

What exactly is a "special need," anyway? That's the premise behind this video created for World Down Syndrome Day, which cleverly addresses the phrase still often used to describe an individual with disabilities.

The jump rope is a common everyday object that is easy to take for granted. Ethnomusicologist Kyra Gaunt hops quickly through its history and shows how it's reshaped everything from the playground to popular music.

Of all the great debates that have consumed academic communities over the years, there is one that has remained frustratingly unsettled. That question is, of course, who will win in a race, a tortoise or a hare? A pet variety show in Thailand decided to find out once and for all.

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is proud to welcome two new student affiliate councils to its growing list of local chapters at college campuses around the U.S. These councils are an engaging place for undergraduate and graduate students to exchange ideas and experiences with one another. Students, keep your eyes out for upcoming student affiliate council activities, and join in!

Granny? Meemaw? Nanna? Choosing the name you want grandchildren to call you can be a difficult decision! If you or a close friend or relative is going through this process right now, the following video will help you to visualize and "try on" some options.

The sidewalk lemonade stand may be a rite of passage for many U.S. children, but did you know that in many cities, setting up a lemonade stand requires a permit? In response, lemonade maker Country Time has offered to help young entrepreneurs pay fines and acquire permits for running lemonade stands.

A public service announcement created for the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs to promote foster parenting quickly went viral quickly racking up more than 120 million views in a few days.

Mister Rogers is having a moment. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Fred Rogers' legacy is being honored with a postage stamp, and a hit new documentary film, Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Recently published Early-View Articles available to subscribers cover a range of topics including mothers' perceptions on neighborhood quality and child well-being; coping strategies for persons with bipolar disorder and their partners; military couples lersure experiences; and relationship education for low-income couples.

It's officially August, so you know what that means: the beginning of "back to school" season! (Cue groans.) As we purchase school supplies for our own children, or for local community drives, let us also take a moment to contemplate the pencil. Just how did this everyday object come to be? And why are they often yellow? Pencil shop owner Caroline Weaver shares the history behind this common writing implement.

Eleven-year-old Mason Ramsey became an internet sensation when a video of him yodeling in a Walmart went viral early this spring. Since then, Mason has been a guest on Ellen, the Grand Ole Opry, and has had other YouTube video create remixes of his singing.

You can't tell a book by its cover, but you can often tell what a movie is about based on the typeface used on its poster. This video tells the story of how one typeface came to dominate all movie posters for a brief period of time, before its overuse dropped its status from the movie A-list to the B-list.

As summer winds down, it's time for kids to return to school. When Principal Gerry Brooks from Lexington, Kentucky is asked what the most stressful part of a new school year is, there is only one answer: kindergarten lunchroom duty.

Legend says that if you toss a coin over your shoulder into the Trevi Fountain in Rome, and make a wish, that you'll one day return to this "eternal city" in Italy. An estimated 3,000 euros are thrown into the fountain every day. But have you ever wondered what happens to all those coins?

Our hearts go out to all the families and individuals that face the aftermath of natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires. Always remember to take care of your family and home first before helping others.

Technology can help us solve many problems in our lives, but do we sometimes ask it to do too much? That's the question asked in this clever commercial where a man living in a smart home gets himself into a bit of a mess. This ad is from Rema 1000, a Norwegian supermarket chain, whose philosophy is encapsulated in their tagline "simplicity is king."

A new ad campaign from Nescau (the Nestle of Brazil) perfectly captures the fears of many parents whose children pursue athletic endeavors. But parents need to remember that sports play an important role in children’s development and independence.

Tech is becoming more sophisticated in the ways it helps people navigate their daily lives, and there's no exception for people who are blind or visually impaired. Accessibility features like VoiceOver and bill readers allow people to be even more independent and efficient.

When was the last time you made a new friend? For over half of adults in the United Kingdom it's been “a long time” (54%) according to an online poll. The reason given by nearly half (49%) was that their busy lives kept them from connecting with other people.

The race for a seat in the Vermont State House of Representatives between Lucy Rogers and Zac Mayo has become quite competitive. But when it came time to debate, the two candidates from Lamoille County surprised voters by coming together to perform a duet on guitar and cello.

Family Science faculty from San Diego State University’s Department of Child & Family Development are slated to present their latest research on transnational families living across borders at the annual academic conference of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), in San Diego this November.

In honor of NCFR heading west this week to San Diego, let's take a closer look at a fabled icon of the wild west, and star of classic Western films: the tumbleweed. But just what are tumbleweeds and where did they come from?

Chip Kidd is perhaps the most famous book cover designer there is. (His most iconic design, for the novel Jurassic Park, was also the basis for the movie franchise's logo.) While his designs are often very simple, a lot of planning, thought, and a healthy dose of humor goes into each design.

Keeping a diary is a common therapeutic method to help us sort and understand the complex emotions we experience over time. When Disney animator Gary Andrews starting keeping one, he naturally began documenting his life in the form of cartoons. After the sudden death of his wife Joy, these continued "doodle diaries" have helped Gary through the stages of his family's grief.

We don't want to give too much away of this Christmas advertisement for U.K. department store chain John Lewis. Let's just say it involves a little girl, her dog Buster, and a gift that gets an unexpected response. Happy holidays to you and your family from NCFR.

A 2-minute preview of the 2018 closing plenary with Andrew J. Cherlin, Ph.D., where he looks back on his his deinstitutionalization of marriage thesis to see what has (and has not) stood the test of time.

The discipline of Family Science is vibrant and growing. Visit Family.Science to learn more.